Turquoise Mini Flower Shank Button - Handmade Ceramic - Raku Fired
This week I am featuring the most stylish yet organic ceramic raku button creations that are made by clay artist Lisa Peters aka LisaPetersArt on Etsy from Closter in New Jersey, USA.
She writes: "I strive to find beauty in the imperfect circle, the ragged-unfinished edge and the slightly crooked line."
Four Hole Sew Through Handmade Raku Fired Button
I asked Laura some quirky questions and here are her answers !
Why is it that you make what you make ?
I never set out to work in ceramic. I was a still life commercial photographer for about 10 yrs when I decided I needed to explore other mediums - a path which led me to fiber, quilting, mixed media and then finally an adult education course which started me working in clay. After about 2 yrs of private instruction I started working on my own, creating sculpture and exhibiting works in Mixed Media, until one day I was playing with a scrap of clay, that was to be part of a larger installation that turned out to be a bead. After realizing I did not have to incorporate the bead into my sculpture I fell in love with the idea of the Bead as ART in itself and soon thereafter began creating buttons.
Why is it that you do not make what others make ?
I don't know. Really, I am not sure why my designs are so different. I don't have a method or recipe for design. I never read directions, I played the piano "by ear", I get hives reading a map even when I don't know where I am going. I never set out to make a certain design, the design just comes to life thru my hands into the clay and then I do my best to refine it & poke holes in it. Creating something that looks like someone else's work would be unfulfilling to me, even difficult, sometimes I cannot even make my own designs twice (my regular customers are nodding their heads in agreement right now). That being said, I am sure there are many people in this universe who are my "creative twins" and we have not yet been introduced. I admire the work of other ceramic bead makers so much, their technique's and styles but I don't want to do what they do, I want to do what I do - My goals are to create pieces so that the person using them has something totally unique and to give them something less than that is not what makes me happy.
Do you mind placing items on Etsy that you like very much yourself but others do not seem to feel so ?
I have never tried to guesstimate what other people will like or dislike. Sometimes I play a little game and put something on etsy that I adore, is totally weird and has no obvious use and it's usually the first thing to sell. I have even titled the listings as "what is this?" or "Take a chance!" There is so much creativity out there it thrills me when things like that sell and I know it is going to challenge the buyer! I never underestimate the extremely talented etsy buyer !
Do you ever make items you do not like yourself but others do ?
I am learning to create for everyone or at least I am trying. I have customers, who are now Dear Friends and I will ask them, "What can I do to make this more user-friendly?" or "Is there anything I am doing that you would like me to change?" Sometimes I get caught up in a vision I have and then realize after I'm finished patting myself on the back on a job well done that "uh-oh, they aren't going to be able to use this without hours of frustration..." So I am learning to appreciate what it means to create for everyone's taste.
Handmade Raku Fired Ceramic Button in Celadon Glaze
Most people desire both beauty and functionality but those two functions are often incompatible. How do you deal with this ?
Story of my life. I think I will just say "there is way, to make everything work". As an artist I cannot give in to this way of thinking, I just have faith that my vision is recognized by someone who can take it to the next level and make it work.
Why do you make buttons ? and, for example, not flowerpots ?
I create large sculpture and tiny buttons & beads and probably nothing in between. The desire is not there for anything else ceramic-wise or “utilitarian”—there are other people that do it much better than I ever could. I have a grouping of pitchers I made once, about 20 of them which have inspired me to have a garage sale soon—I’m sure most that saw them would agree !
And why are you working with ceramics ? and, for example, not with wood ?
I work with many mediums - My medium of choice for Buttons is ceramic. I admire the craft of other artists working with wood and shell but I find it easiest to express my vision with ceramic.
Could you satisfy your creational cravings another way ? for example through ballet, singing, photography or poetry ?
The only medium I no longer create in on a serious level is photography. As mentioned earlier, I was a professional photographer for many years and it was also what I studied at the School of Visual Arts, NYC for 4 years. I fell out of love with photography because I never gave myself an opportunity to explore other options—I was only 22yrs when I opened my own studio- I was very focused back then and never stepped off my career path. I enjoy photography today as much as any novice photographer taking pictures of their children, their pets and their gardens. I still create Sculpture, work in Mixed Media and also have a great love for Encaustic - I just rarely show my pieces online. I do exhibit from time to time in galleries in a Solo Show called "The Versatility of Ceramic, One Artists View" which shows my large sculptural pieces alongside as equals with my beads and buttons to educate viewers that there is as much beauty in a large piece of artwork as there is in a small tiny button and I am very pleased to say the response has been positive.
How do you choose your colours and shapes ?
They choose me. If you know my work, you know this is something I just can't ever seem to get right.. a red leaf, green lips, square buttons with 6 holes and beads with bumps and bruises... but again, there is something for everyone and I am glad there were people out there waiting for me to get here !
Handmade Raku Fired Ceramic - Leaf Impression Buttons
Small Blue and Purple Knitted Buttons
This week I am featuring the most beautiful knitted button creations I have ever seen; they are made by knitted textile designer Amanda Sainsbury aka AmandaSainsbury on Etsy from Somerset in the UK.
She writes: "It's no secret that I love making buttons. I love mixing colours and textures and actively look for these qualities in everything I do."
Small Circle Buttons
I asked Amanda some quirky questions and here are her answers !
Why is it that you make what you make ?
I've always been brought up to be creative and what I'm doing now just seems to be a natural progression of that. I can't think of anything else that I would rather do.
Why is it that you do not make what others make ?
Having done a degree in knitted textiles, you're heavily encouraged to find your own path developing ideas. I see some wonderful items and often think, 'I wish I'd thought of that' but in the long term, you have to believe in what you do.
Do you mind placing items on Etsy that you like very much yourself but others do not seem to feel so ?
I always make what I like. If I don't like it then I can't expect anyone else to. If this, however doesn't make me any money then I'm clearly doing something wrong! At the end of day, I still have bills to pay.
Do you ever make items you do not like yourself but others do ?
Not as yet....
I get bored if I have to continuously make multiples of things, but I came up with the item in the first place so can't really complain!
Knitted Rose Buttons
Most people desire both beauty and functionality but those two functions are often incompatible. How do you deal with this ?
One of the few things I've remembered from college, was the phrase: 'Form Follows Function'. This phrase does run through my mind when I have an idea, but its easier said than done. I do frequently come up with something that would never work as a button so I keep it back for something special. Theres a few.
Why do you make buttons ? and, for example, not sweaters ?
I had made lots of knitted fabric which weren't selling so had to modify slightly. They came from a need to change and I now love doing them! Good things do come from mistakes, which is quite handy.
And why are you knitting ? and, for example, not weaving ?
I started on my university course. Firstly as a taster in the first year and then specialised in the last two years. I certainly had no idea it would be the basis for my career when I started the course, but I believe I made the right choice. Accountancy was never going to work;)
Could you satisfy your creational cravings another way ? for example through ballet, singing, photography or poetry ?
I've tried doing a few things over the years but always seem to come back to knitting. I would love to be able to draw people or indeed anything, but seem to find something else to do. It always looks very relaxing.
How do you choose your colours and shapes ?
I tend to start with one colour I like and then go from there, doesn't always work though! With shapes and patterns I often make it up as I go along. This tends to mean I have stacks of notes and doodles around the places if I come across something that I really like!
Crystal Knitted Buttons
Gwyneth button in burgundy
This week I am featuring the most beautiful, though still functional, button creations that are made by button artist Laura Walker aka veronicabuttons on Etsy from Sheffield in the UK.
She writes: "If buttons didn't exist I'd have had to invent them, if I can get a needle through it I feel compelled to stitch it. I am one girl who works like a fiend in her studio in England to produce very unique, quirky, button morsels."
Prunela ceramic button in pink and black
I asked Laura some quirky questions and here are her answers !
Why is it that you make what you make ?
I'm obsessed with details (I'm an embroiderer) and my thing has always been hand stitch particularly utility stitches and fastenings, I'm also obsessed with the idea of making everything from scratch myself. So when it came to buttons I couldn't find exactly what I wanted and I couldn't 'imprint' my making process on pre-made buttons, so I decided to make my own.
Why is it that you do not make what others make ?
I seem to be forever on a quest to create something different, Currently it's very hard to be completely unique as there is the argument that there is nothing new we are at the stage where everything has already been done, unless it's new technology. So it's a challenge but I like a challenge, it's not satisfying making what others make and even if I am doing something similar to others i have to find a unique angle so that what I create is 'my own'.
Do you mind placing items on Etsy that you like very much yourself but others do not seem to feel so ?
I can't please everybody I have come across people who either don't like my work or don't 'get' it. I can happily say that on Etsy I have had nothing but positive feedback about my work no one has told me they didn't like it.
Do you ever make items you do not like yourself but others do ?
Mostly everything I make I have to like otherwise I wouldn't be motivated to make it. Colours have however always been an issue. I have had to 'break out' of favourite colour habits but this has been liberating and broadened my 'colour likes', I still have preferences but I can be far more objective in terms of creating colour ways for my work.
Frany delicate lace button in tea and jade
Most people desire both beauty and functionality but those two functions are often incompatible. How do you deal with this ?
At university my work completely disregarded function, I saw function and practicalities as an obstacle to my creative freedom so opted out of the designer/ maker functional objects like bags and scarves, if I made these object they would just be pieces of art and so it didn't matter if they incorporated rusty wire. With my buttons I am fortunate to find something practical and beautiful that has broad possibilities both in function and just pure aesthetics.
Why do you make buttons ? and, for example, not flowerpots ?
I'm an embroiderer first and foremost so everything I do is from the perspective of an embroiderer, my burning question is always 'can I get a needle through it?' Buttons are never complete in my eyes unless they are stitched. Clay enables me to make buttons, I have no interest in making any other traditional ceramic related items as for me it in no way relats to fabric or embroidery.
And why are you working with ceramics ? and, for example, not with wood ?
I use ceramics because it is practical, I get the aesthetic I want and it works amazingly well with fabric. I did experiments with resin early on in my button making research and found that to be messy time consuming and the aesthetic was wrong for me. I wanted colours to be like the colours of my fabrics and I wanted to be able to 'print' on the buttons ceramics was the perfect solution.
Could you satisfy your creational cravings another way ? for example through ballet, singing, photography or poetry ?
In short yes and no, I did ballet as a child and it was great but making visuals is specifically suited to me, it must be visual. If I stop making/ creating it always eeks out in some form of visual output. I'm currently in a place where I am fulfilling a lot of orders which is essentially re-making objects I have already designed which is not particularly creative. I have had to find other means to satisfy my creativity and I did this sub-consciously without realising at first, I see now more than ever that I have to create to survive!
How do you choose your colours and shapes ?
For colour combinations I look at everything and anything. I'm always consciously trying to break out of my colour 'safe zone' as in the past i could be very fixed in my ideas about colours, so a woman could get on the bus in a patterned vintage inspired dress with blue subdued red and cream in the design, it gets logged in my head and I try it on a button. Shapes are limited by the shapes of cutters I can get but I have avoided intricate shapes as the patterns on the buttons and colours are the emphasis.
Rectangular button with glass in red and yellow
